Two groups were cultivated in monolayer or micromass in the absence of TGF-��3. TGF-��3-stimulated monolayer and micromass groups expressed type II collagen that was read more significantly greater in the micromass system. These results show that the interactions between the cells in the micromass culture system can regulate the proliferation and differentiation of periosteal mesenchymal cells during chondrogenesis and that this effect is enhanced by TGF-��3. Qing et al. 23 determined whether the co-culture of rabbit articular chondrocytes and BMSCs in vitro promotes the expression of cartilaginous extracellular matrix and, if so, what is the optimal ratio of the two cell types. Results demonstrate that the co-culture of rabbit chondrocytes and rabbit BMSCs at defined ratios can promote the expression of cartilaginous extracellular matrix.
The optimal cell ratio appears to be 2:1 (chondrocytes:BMSCs). It appears that this approach has potential applications in cartilage tissue engineering since it provides a protocol for maintaining and promoting seed-cell differentiation and function. Reis et al. 24 describe the response of human osteoblast-like MG63 cells after 6 days of culture in contact with artificially generated particles from both UHMWPE polymer and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT)/UHMWPE nanocomposites. This novel composite has superior wear behavior, having thus the potential to reduce the number of revision hip arthroplasty surgeries required by wear failure of acetabular cups and diminish particle-induced osteolysis.
The results of this in vitro study of viability and proliferation and interleukin-6 (IL-6) production, especially the absence of significant elevation in the osteolysis inductor IL-6 values, reinforce the potential of this superior wear-resistant composite for future orthopedic applications, when compared to traditional UHMWPE. Monteiro and Faro 25 evaluated the functional independence of 34 aged individuals with fractures, at admission, discharge and more than one month after their return home. They also checked on the relation ship between functional independence and demographic and health variables. The motor and total functional independence scores increased at discharge, but decreased one month after their returning home. Functional impairment increased with age and also with longer length of stay.
Hypothyroidism was related to cognitive impairment, while dementia and depression were related to motor impairment. The critical problem of infections related to orthopedic surgery was covered in two articles. Ercole et al. 26 evaluated the applicability of the National Nosocomial Infection Surveillance index for prediction of surgical site infection in orthopedic GSK-3 surgeries and to propose an alternative index. The study involved a historical cohort of 8,236 patients who had been submitted to orthopedic surgery. The incidence of infection was 1.41%.